Legazpi is the Capital City of Albay Province. Situated on the eastern portion of Albay approximately 534 kms. South of Manila and centrally located at the heart of Bicol Region. It was named after Miguel López de Legazpi, the Spanish conquistador who conquered the Philippine islands in 1565, and whose family name came from Legazpi, a town in Guipuzcoa, Spain.

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Legazpi’s most popular tourist attraction is Mayon Volcano. More than just your gateway to Bicolandia, Legazpi has so much to offer when it comes to food and adventure activities.

Places to visit in Legazpi City

The Albay Park and Wildlife – located along Binitayan Road is a popular picnic grove and a zoological park combined.

The Embarcadero de Legazpi is a major waterfront development in Legazpi fronting the main harbor of Legazpi with views towards Mayon Volcano. It consists of shopping areas, restaurants, markets, a major civic space and landmark lighthouse.

The Japanese Tunnel is an L-shaped tunnel used as an arsenal by the Japanese Imperial Army during the World War II. The tunnel is located in Brgy. EM’s Barrio South in the Albay District.

Kapuntukan Hill or Sleeping Lion Hill is located at the point south of the Port of Legazpi. A scenic view of the Embarcadero, the Legazpi Port District, Albay Gulf with Mayon in the backdrop can be viewed from the top of the hill.

The Legazpi City Museum showcases the heritage and culture of the city. It is currently the only public museum in the entire Bicol Region.

Liberty Bell is a bronze bell installed in 1945 by the American liberation forces at the Peñaranda Park, in front of Albay Provincial Capitol. It is enclosed with a dome-shaped concrete structure with this inscription, “Whenever oppression knocks at your door, feel free to ring this bell”.

Ligñon Hill Nature Park is located off Binitayan Road behind Albay Park and Wildlife, is one of the best places to view Mayon Volcano and Legazpi City. A winding road takes visitors to the observation station on top. The park includes nature trails, ziplines, view decks On the southwestern slope, located is the monitoring station of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) station where any activities of Mayon are monitored.

The Magayon Art Gallery at the lobby of the Albay Provincial Capitol serves as the avenue for artists to show off their visual creations

Rizal Park is located in front of Saint Raphael Church on Peñaranda Street It’s dominating features are the fountain located at the center of the park, and the monument of Jose Rizal, the country’s national hero, sculpted by National Artist Napoleon Abueva in 1966.

The Legazpi Boulevard is one of the newest attractions in the city and is poised to become the new industrial commercial strip of the city as well as the site of the new urban district. The Legazpi Boulevard is the second longest boulevard in the country, after Roxas Boulevard in Metro Manila.

Tenderloin Tips at Biggs Diner

Festivals in Legazpi City

The Ibalong Festival is among the renowned non-religious festivals in Bicol, and is celebrated in the month of August. The epic story of Ibalong, a Bicolano legendary hero and other ancient heroes is the theme of the Ibalong Festival. People involved in this clamorous merriment, parade in the streets wearing masks and costumes to imitate the appearances of the heroes and the villains, portraying the classic battles that made its way into the history of Bicol. Continuing the joyful event up to the present time, the Ibalong Festival aims to express warmth and goodwill to all people; visitors and tourists are always encouraged to celebrate with the Bicolanos.

Legazpi is also home to the annual Magayon Festival of Albay which is held throughout the month of April.

Monuments and Landmarks

The Legazpi Heroes Memorial Pylon at the intersection of Quezon and Rizal Streets, is a 16-metre (52 ft) high monument built to commemorate the defeat of Filipino fighters by American forces in 1900. The city went through raids by Dutch and Muslim pirates before the arrival of the Spanish and was the sight of a much bloody battle during the Philippine-American War and World War II.

The General Simeon Ola statue is located at Bicol Heritage Park located inside the police camp named in his honor, Camp Simeon A. Ola.

The Jose Maria Peñaranda Monument was built as a tribute to the late Governor of Albay who served from 1834-1843. It is located at the Peñaranda Park.

The Headless Monument was constructed as a dedication to the unknown heroes who died and shed their blood during the Japanese military occupation of Legazpi City in World War II. The memorial is located within the city’s Post Office Compound in Barangay Lapu-Lapu,

What to Eat in Legazpi

Local culinary is known as Bicolano food. Coconut milk is the most important ingredient to be added during the cooking. Mains can be pork, seafood or poultry. Flavor will be hot from chili, sweet and sour to savoury enriched by coconut milk base. Most famous amongst the Bicolanos’ menu is Bicol Express, which consists of pork and intestine slow-cooked in coconut milk, vinegar and some spices. Common Filipino menus also can be found quite easily. They include dishes like pork adobo, silog (fried rice in garlic), milkfish (bangus) and longganisa (pork sausages). The taste of the longganisa is sweet, quite similar to Ilocano’s longganisa.

Recommended Restaurants:

Small Talk

Biggs Diner

The Oriental Hotel Legazpi City

Places to Stay in Legazpi – complete with address and telephone numbers

How to get There

Legazpi City is the center of transportation in the Bicol Region, being strategically located in the middle of the region, between two other major cities in Bicol and is colloquially considered as the “Gateway to South Luzon”. Legazpi also hosts the most modern airports, seaports and transport terminals in the region.

By air

The city is served by Legazpi Airport, which is the busiest Domestic Airport in Luzon and with its runway of 2,280 metres (7,480 ft), it is capable of handling international aircraft. Philippine Airlines and Cebu Pacific Air has three flights each daily from Manila. Cebu Pacific’s third flight route is Manila-Legazpi-Cebu. Both Cebu Pacific and PAL use Airbus A319s and A320s. AirAsia Zest and PAL Express also have a daily flights.

By land

Legazpi can be reached through land transport (by bus) from Manila in about 10 hours, two hours less if the new Andaya Highway route is taken. The city has one of the most modern van and transport terminals in the country. More than 10 bus companies operate daily transport to and from Manila to Legazpi which makes the city very accessible to commuters and tourists alike.

By train

As of March 2012, The 10 1/2-hour Mayon Limited started traveling between Manila and Ligao, about 28 kilometres (17 mi) from Legazpi. That service would extend to Legazpi in 2013.

Melo Villareal is the Online Publisher of Outoftownblog.com. He is an Accountant by profession who left the corporate world at the age of 23 to explore his beautiful country and the rest of the world. Today, Melo works as a part-time Social Media Manager for local and international clients. His full-time work focuses on discovering interesting culture, explore different cuisines and take memorable photos from local and international destinations he's visiting.

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